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News

Rose Bowl

With no traditional venues for 'soccer', the United
States was in some ways an unconventional choice to host the FIFA
World Cup
™. As it turned out though, USA 94 was a tournament
rich in goals and excitement, drawing huge crowds and culminating
eventually in the final at the Rose Bowl - drawing the eyes of the
world to this small corner of California on 17 July 1994.

Nestled at the edge of the San Gabriel mountains north of Los
Angeles in the town of Pasadena, this vast arena accommodated
94,194 spectators and provided a fitting backdrop for the showpiece
final between a pair of three-time world champions, Brazil and
Italy. The South Americans eventually claimed their fourth FIFA
World Cup in a penalty shootout after what can only be called an
anticlimactic contest.

The
Seleção thus finally got their hands on the FIFA World Cup
trophy, having previously retained the old Jules Rimet trophy after
winning it for a third time in 1970. The tournament's true
stars, Romario and Roberto Baggio, were largely subdued - the
latter sealing Italy's fate with his famous penalty miss - but
the atmosphere was admirably upbeat. For the spectators it was a
day of celebration as the Rose Bowl basked in its moment in the
sun.

Not that the glare of the spotlight is anything new for a
stadium situated just miles from the glitz of Hollywood. A major
venue for American football - it has hosted five Super Bowls
together with the annual collegiate Rose Bowl - it staged the gold
medal match at the 1984 Olympic Football Tournament, with 101,799
people turning out to see France beat Brazil 2-0.

More recently, in 1999, the FIFA Women's World Cup reached
its climax there, with the hosts beating China 5-4 on penalty-kicks
after a 0-0 draw. Over 90,000 people were in attendance as
America's women claimed their second world crown.

Completed in 1922, the Rose Bowl has increased in size over the
years. Built in a horseshoe shape, capacity rose from 57,000 to
76,000 when its open south end was built on in 1929. By the 1950s
it could accommodate over 100,000. The venue has correspondingly
branched out from its gridiron roots. Innumerable shows and
concerts have been held there, as well as the world's largest
flea market, Moreover, Major League Soccer side LA Galaxy called
the Rose Bowl home for seven seasons and not only were the US
national team regulars there but Mexico and other Central American
teams have also staged matches at the arena.

Though typically avoiding the Rose Bowl for contests against
fellow CONCACAF opposition - whose Spanish-speaking support would
likely to outnumber their own - the USA have played there 15 times,
losing on just three occasions.

The first of these reverses came against Romania in the
Americans' final group game of USA 94 on 26 June. Four days
earlier, the Red, White and Blue had shocked fancied Colombia 2-1
on the same pitch. Over 93,000 people witnessed the host
nation's first victory in a FIFA World Cup match since
1950.

Of the eight matches it hosted during USA 94, arguably the most
memorable was Romania's thrilling 3-2 triumph over Argentina in
the second round. Ilie Dumitrescu was the scourge of the
Albiceleste that day, scoring twice inside the opening 18
minutes and then slotting the ball perfectly through three
defenders and into the path of Gheorghe Hagi for him to add the
Romanians' third. Goals from Gabriel Batistuta and Abel Balbo
proved in vain as Argentina, with Diego Maradona watching
helplessly from the stand, made an early exit.

The Rose Bowl also witnessed the highs and lows of tournament
dark horses Sweden. It was in Pasadena that they fell in the
semi-final to Romario's fifth goal of the finals, yet days
later they returned to claim third place by beating Bulgaria
4-0.

The final itself may not have lived up to the high expectations
but there were still scenes that stick in the memory: the beaten
Baggio with head in hands, a chain of Brazilians celebrating a
victory they dedicated to the late motor racing champion Ayrton
Senna, the Italian veteran Franco Baresi in tears after playing the
match of his life but missing his penalty-kick. To quote a banner
hanging on the Rose Bowl walls, this was a day for 'Making
soccer history'.

With the construction of the football-specific, but
significantly smaller, Home Depot Center south of LA, the Rose Bowl
may see less 'soccer' these days, but its days in the world
spotlight will not be forgotten.